The Brig by Gustave Le Gray - a picture from the past

This 1856 seascape from the French painter-turned-photographer was one of the most famous photographs of its time. Le Gray is among the most important figures in the history of photography, achieving both artistic and commercial success within his lifetime; his seascapes went on to influence the Impressionists, especially Claude Monet in works like his 1867 painting
Garden at Sainte-Adresse

Clouds loom over a boat sailing off the Normandy coast in a seascape titled, Brig on the Water. Prints of this photograph were so popular that a London dealer of the time advertised that they had sold over 800 in two monthsIllustration: Photograph: Gustave Le Gray/ Getty Images